"Hello. My name is J. Blas. From the time I was small I have enjoyed arts and crafts. I loved to dig and prepare clay to make my own pieces and from that time on I began to experiment with ceramics. When I was 17, I started my own ceramic workshop because I hate to ask anyone for work – I feel shy and ashamed. Due to my lack of experience, I had to shut it down and went to work in other studios as well as in a ceramics museum, where I learned everything – from how to look for clay to crafting techniques.

"Over time, I learned more and more and became aware of the critical stages that clay has, and where it is good to depend on other people to work it perfectly. And so I changed directions and began to work in wrought iron and blown glass. When things began to get better, I started to experiment with sheets of iron of different weights to give my works more movement.

"Currently I again have my own workshop where we craft a variety of products, mostly decorative. We cut the metal sheets and hammer them into shape. Then we weld them and add the details. For a clean appearance, we submerge them in an acid bath to remove grease and carbon. After that, they are treated to retard rust before we paint them with a special, lead-free paint.

"We are the first workshop in the area to utilize a fine blowtorch as a work tool and to give more originality to our products. Every piece created at my workshop goes hand in hand with originality, design and quality. We are always developing new designs and products."

Your support makes a real difference to the lives of artisans.

Ernestina Asante

West Africa

Although carving has long been regarded as the preserve of men, Ernestina has been able to make her own mark on the industry, carving her own masks and djembe drums.

Through her sales with NOVICA, Ernestina has grown as an entrepreneur, expanding her business and taking on apprentices. She even persuaded her husband who was a taxi driver to quit his job and join NOVICA as a carver.